Garment construction



June 1957 K. M. RICHARDSON 3,323,138

GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7, 1966 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR KARLM. RICHARDSON IMEM 1&5!

J1me 1967 K. M. RICHARDSON 3,323,138

GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed Dec. 7, 1966 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.KARL M. RICHARDSON June 6, 1967 K. M. RICHARDSON 3,

GARMENT CONSTRUCTION Filed D60. '7, 1966 5 SheStSF-Sheet J I NVEN TORKARL M. RICHARDSON United States Patent 3,323,138 GARMENT CONSTRUCTIONKarl M. Richardson, P20. Box 116, Hazel Park, Mich. 48030 Filed Dec. 7,1966, Ser. No. 599,818 13 Claims. (Cl. 2-141) The present application isa continuation-in-part of my copending application Ser. No. 446,953filed Apr. 9, 1965, now abandoned which in turn was acontinuationin-part of my copending application Ser. No. 337,625 filedJan. 14, 1964, now abandoned which in turn was a continuation-impart ofmy copending application, Ser. No. 126,102 filed July 24, 1961 and nowabandoned.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wearingapparel, and relates more particularly to the class or type of frontopening garments, as an example, shirts, coats, pajama tops, blouses andthe like, which are normally fitted to the upper part of the body.

In body garments of the aforementioned type, 1t 1s common practice tohave interconnected front and rear panels, with the front panelconsisting of a pair of separable sections defining a neck opening. Theseparable sections include opposing marginal edges and the sections aremovable relative to each other when unfastened to permit the placing ofthe garment on the upper part of the body of the wearer. It is commonpractice to provide the marginal edge of one of the sections withbuttons and to provide complementary button-holes adjacent the marginaledge of the other section, although other fastening means, such as snapfasteners, loops, and shirt studs are sometimes used.

The lapels provided on the garments mentioned pre viously are unmatchedas to length and width. The lapel on the section provided with thebutton-holes forms a neat fold line from the edge of the button adjacentthe lower end of the lapel towards the collar of the garment since, whenthe sections are buttoned, the aforesaid button holds the lower terminusor end of the lapel in a fixed position against its edge. However, thelower ter minus or end of the lapel on the section provided with thebuttons folds above the aforesaid button, which obstructs or preventsthe lapel from folding at a point as low as the folding point of theopposite lapel on the other section. This results in a lapel on thesection provided with the buttons which is shorter and narrower than thelapel on the other section. In addition, the strain on the button tendsto place a Wrinkle in the garment in the material under the lapel fromthe point of attachment of the button towards the collar. Thus, itreadily appears to any observer as well as to the user that the lapelson the garment do not match.

' It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to providean opening or aperture positioned between the fastening means and themarginal edge of a garment section and with the center portion of theopening located slightly above a horizontal line passing through thecenter portion of the fastening means and between a vertical linepassing through the center .portion of the fastening means and themarginal edge of the garment section whereby the opening may be foldedover the fastening means which is then received therethrough thusremoving the fastening means as an obstruction to the forming of thelapel below the fastening means. 4

Another object of the present invention is to provide a garmentconstruction which permits the lapel thereof to form or start at anydesired point below the fastening means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a garmentconstruction of the above type which eliminates the wrinkle in the lapelwhen any material is used, where- 3,323,138 Patented June 6, 1967 as inprior art constructions wrinkles appeared many times, particualrly withmaterials having a high tendency to wrinkle.

Another object of the body garment having and length.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a neater and moreattractive body garment which includes means for improving the formation.of one of the lapels, without wrinkling the garment underneath thelapel as commonly occurs in garments presently in use.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bodygarment of the aforementioned type which includes means for holding thelower terminus of both lapels in a fixed position at substantially thesame point on the garment so as to make them practically the same lengthand width.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bodygarment having interconnected front and rear panels, said front panelconsisting of a pair of separable sections defining a neck opening, saidsections including opposing marginal edges and being movable relative toeach other when unfastened to permit the placing of the garment on theupper part of the body of the wearer, the opposing marginal edges of thesections each being provided with a lapel having upper and lower ends, afastener on one of the sections spaced from the upper end of the lapelclosely adjacent the lower end of the lapel provided thereon, meansdefining a relatively small opening in the one section which is spacedfrom the upper end of the lapel slightly above the. fastener, saidpresent invention is to provide a lapels of substantially equal widthopening being located in the one section on the side of the fastenerclosest to the corresponding marginal edge, the lower end of the lapelon the one section being adapted to be held in a fixed position (whichalso lengthens the .one lapel by overcoming the button as anobstruction) against the one section by placing the opening over thefastener, and fastening means on the other section closely adjacent themarginal edge thereof and spaced from the upper end of the correspondinglapel substantially the same distance as the fastener and the openingare spaced from the upper end of said first-mentioned lapel, saidfastening means being adapted to engage the fastener to hold the lowerend of the lapel on the other section in a firm position with respect toboth of the sections whereby the lower ends of the lapels are fixed onthe garment at substantially the same place.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a body garment ofthe aforementioned type wherein the fastener is in the form of a button,and the fastening means is in the form of a button-hole which is adaptedto fit over the button.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bodygarment of the aforementioned type wherein the opening is defined inpart by a loop attached to the marginal edge.

Still another object of the present invention is to providereinforcement for the garment below the lower end of the lapel at theplace where the lapel starts to fold in order to allow the lapel to formabove the button on the opposite lapel or to keep the lapel from formingbelow the fastener.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a body garmentof the aforementioned type wherein the opening is in the form of a slitin the one section, which is arranged thereon ubstantially perpendicularto the corresponding marginal edge or parallel thereto.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a bodygarment of the aforementioned type wherein an additional aperture orslit is provided in the other section closely adjacent the button-holeand which is adapted 8 to fit over the button after the button-hole isplaced over the button so that the button extends through both lapelsand holds both lapels firmly in place and substantially the same lengthand width.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a body garmentwherein the fastener and the fastening means take the form of a pair ofcomplementary snaptogether elements.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a body garmenthaving only openings on opposed sections which sections are heldtogether by an element similar to a shirt stud.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a body garmenthaving opposed sections with one section being provided with twoopenings and the other section provided with a fastener and an openingbetween the fastener and the marginal edge of the section.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a bodygarment which is simple in construction, inexpensive to manufacture,attractive, strong and durable and well adapted for the purpose forwhich it is intended.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary front elevational view of a body garment,taking the form of a sport shirt, constructed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating one of thelapels shown in FIGURE 1 and lengthened to a point below the fastener;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of a portion of the shirtshown in FIGURES l and 2 before assembly;

FIGURE 4 is a further enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of FIGURE3;

FIGURE 5 is a fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of still another embodimentof the present invention;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view of a further embodiment ofthe present invention;

FIGURE 8 is a fragmentary elevational view with lapels constructed inaccordance with the features illustrated in FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to FIGURE 8 butillustrating a narrowed margin of overlap for the marginal edges of thefront sections of the garment;

FIGURE 10 is a fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIGURES 11 and 12 are fragmentary elevational views illustrating variousWays for reinforcing the garment at the places where the lapels start tofold for the purpose of not allowing the lapel to form below thereinforcement;

FIGURE 13 is a fragmentary elevational view of a modified form of theinvention and with the lapels unfolded; and

FIGURE 14 is a fragmentary elevational view of the body garment shown inFIGURE 13 but with the lapels folded and connected together Referringnow to the drawings, the body garment, as an example, a sport shirt, isdesignated by the numeral 10 and includes a two piece front panel 12 anda back panel 14. The front panel 12 includes a pair of separablesections 16 and 18 having marginal edges 20 and 22 respectively. Thefront sections 16 and 18 overlap as best illustrated in FIGURE 1 and arereleasably interconnected in a conventional manner by means of buttonsand button-holes or other fastening means, such as snap fasteners, as iswell known in the art.

-As an example, the back panel 14 is made from a unitary single piece ofmaterial which is joined to the front sections 16 and 18 by side seams,not shown, in the usual manner. It should, of course, be appreciatedthat the shirt 10 is provided with armholes and if desired, sleeves, notillustrated, as is well known in the art. The back panel is joined orconnected to the front section 16 by the seam 24 and to the othersection 18 by the seam 26.

The front sections 16 and 18 define a neck opening 28 which issurrounded by a collar 30 in the usual manner. The first and uppermostbutton 32 cooperates with the loop 34 for closing the garment 10 at thethroat of the wearer. The upper part of the panel section 16 is providedwith a lapel 36 and the upper part of the panel section 18 is providedwith a lapel 38. The lapels 36 and 38 are formed along the fold lines 48and 42 respectively as will subsequently appear.

The front panel section 16 includes, as an example, buttons 44 and 46'adjacent but laterally spaced from the marginal edge 20. The other panelsection 18 is provided with corresponding button-holes 48 and 50adjacent but spaced from the marginal edge 22 which are engageable withbuttons 44 and 46 respectively.

The invention includes an additional button-hole or slit 52 (see FIGURES2 and 3) which is located between the marginal edge 26 and the button 44in panel 16.

With such a construction the lapels 36 and 38 are formed along the foldlines 40 and 42 respectively from below the button 44 toward theshoulders when the button-hole 48 is engaged with the button 44, or thebuttonholes 52 and 48 are engaged with the button 44, with the button 32and loop 34 disengaged as illustrated in FIG- URE 1.

The purpose of the additional button-hole or slit 52, which isengageable with the button 44, is to hold the lower terminus or end ofthe lapel 36 at substantially the same point or place on the front panel12 as the lower terminus or end of the lapel 38 when the conventionalbutton-hole 48 is in engagement with the button 44. Thus when thebutton-holes 52 and 48 are engaged with the button 44, and the button 32and the loop 34 are disengaged, the lapels 36 and 38 form tosubstantially the same length and width as illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 shows the front panel section 16 before the lapel 36 has beenformed and shows the position of the button-hole 52 with respect to thebutton 44. FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion ofFIGURE 3. In this view a horizontal centerline 50 has been drawn throughthe center of button 44 as well as a vertical centerline 51. Thebutton-hole 52 should be located above the line 50 and between the line51 and the marginal edge 20. It will be appreciated that in locating thebutton-hole in this manner the center of the button-hole is being referred to, and when vertically extending button-holes are used a portionof the same (not the center) may extend below the horizontal centerline50. From a practical standpoint, the button-hole is usually never setcloser to the button than a vertical line running through the extremeright of the button 44 seen in FIGURE 4 and preferably the button-holeshould be spaced from the center of the button a distance at least equalto the width of the button.

FIGURE 5 illustrates a modification of the present invention whereinsnap fasteners have been substituted for the buttons 44 and 46 andbutton-holes 48 and 56 respec tively. Each pair of snap fastenersincludes a male element or part 56 on the front panel section 16 and afemale element or part 58 on the front panel section 18 as isconventional in the art. Provided between the uppermost element 56 (andslightly above) and the marginal edge 20 in the panel section 16 is aslit or button-hole 60 which is arranged substantially perpendicular tothe marginal edge 20. This is contrasted to the arrangement illustratedin FIGURE 2 wherein the button-hole or slit 52 is arranged substantiallyparallel to the marginal edge 26. The button-hole 60 is fastened overthe male element 56 so as to form the lapel 36 about the fold line 40and to fix the lower end of the lapel 36 in the same manner asillustrated in FIGURE 1. After this step has been completed the femaleelement 58 is snapped into place in locking engagement with the element56 so as to form the lapel 38 about its fold line 42.

The modification illustrated in FIGURE 6 utilizes a loop 66 which isattached on opposite ends thereof to the marginal edge 20 of panelsection 16 laterally opposite (and slightly above) from the button 44rather than utilizing the slit 52 illustrated in FIGURES 2 and 3. Theloop 66 is engageable with the button 44 so as to form the lapel 36along the fold line 40' illustrated in FIGURE 1 and to firmly hold thelower end of the lapel 36 in place. It will be appreciated that the loop66 fastens over the button 44 bringing the edge of the panel section 16under the button 44 near its point of attachment, and not over andbeyond as is the case with the button-hole. This structure is sufficientfor matching the lapels and may be used with relatively inexpensivegarments.

The embodiment illustrated in FIGURES 7 and 8 relates to the use of anadditional button-hole on the front panel section 18. In this embodimentthe two front panels are identified by the reference numerals 16 and 18,as before, and the button or fastener 44 has been illustrated as adecorative fastener. A horizontal centerline 61 has been drawn throughthe fastener to illustrate the relative location of the other elementsto be described hereinafter. A button-hole 62 is positioned between thefastener 44 and the marginal edge 26, and its center is located abovethe centerline 61. A button-hole 63 is located on front panel section 18with its center on centerline 61 and a button-hole 64 is also located onthis section between button-hole 63 and the marginal edge 22 with itscenter slightly above centerline 61.

To assemble the elements of FIGURE 7 to produce the finished articleseen in FIGURE 8, the button-holes are attached to the fastener in theorder of 62, 63 and 64.

It will be noted in this embodiment the vertical buttonholes have beenutilized since they have the advantage of being more easily hidden underthe button and within the fold of the lapel. This arrangement hidesbutton-holes 62 and 63 when assembled.

As button-hole 62 is fastened over fastener 44 it folds downward. Thiscreates the same basic effect as in the embodiment of FIGURE 3 whereinthe buttonhole is placed above the centerline. The button-hole 63generally retains its position with regard to the centerline 61 afterbeing fastened over the fastener and button-hole 64 folds downward andis generally centered with regard to the fastener 44 when assembled. Inthis embodiment it will be seen that the lower ends of both lapels 36and 38 are firmly held in position.

FIGURE 9 is similar to FIGURE 8 with the exception that the fastenersare placed close enough to the marginal edges of the panel sections 16and 18 to allow the lapels 36 and 38 to form immediately above thefasteners as illustrated by the numeral 77. The button 44 may be plainor decorative.

The embodiment of FIGURE 10 is quite similar to that shown in FIGURE 7.In this embodiment button-holes 91 and 92 are provided on section 16 andbutton-holes 93 and 94 are provided on section 18. The button-hole 91takes the same position as the fastener 44 in FIGURE 7. A shirt stud(not shown) is used to assemble this embodiment and when so used isinserted through the buttonholes in the order of 94, 93, 92 and then 91.In assembled condition this shirt has the same appearance as in FIGURE8.

The various embodiments discsused previously relate to matching garmentlapels as to length and width. The features illustrated in FIGURES 11and 12 may be used to make shorter lapels. This is accomplished by theuse of stiffening material fastened within the fold along the edge of apanel section. The stiffening material may be fastened on the front orback side of the panel. The edge of the material is located at the pointwhere the lower end of the lapel starts to foldfThe lapel will not foldbeyond the edge of the stiffener, thus controlling the length of thelapel.

The stiffener may be of any suitable: material, such as heavy fabric ora piece of plastic or thermoplastic material. The method of attachmentmay be by sewing, heat bonding or any other suitable means.

In FIGURE 11, the stiffening material 74 is suitably connected tosection 18 and has an opening therethrough overlying the button-hole49'. The lapel 38 starts to fold at point 76. In FIGURE 12, thestiffener 78 is suitably connected to section 18, and the lapel 38starts to fold at point 80. With such a construction the lapels arematched by controlling the length of one lapel to match the other. Itwill be appreciated that a. stiffener may be provided on both frontpanel sections 1 6 and 18.

Referring specifically to FIGURE 13, the body garment which is shown isidentified by the reference numeral and comprises a front panel 102 anda rear panel 103. The front panel is comprised of separable sections 106and 107 which serve to define a neck opening and these sections includeopposed marginal edges 109 and 110", respectively. Each of the marginaledges 109 and 110 is adapted at its upper end portion to be folded intoan open lapel 112 and 113 seen in FIGURE 14. As seen in FIGURE 13, thelapels are in their unfolded condition.

The section 106 is provided with first and second indi cating marks 116and 117 near the lower end of the lapel 112 and the section 107 isprovided with third and fourth indicating marks 118 and 119 near thelower end portion or lapel 113. These indicating marks are preferablypermanent in nature and may consist of thread tacks or other permanentindicating means such as a color.

FIGURE 14 illustrates the lapel in its folded condition whereas mark 117is folded into aligned relationship with indicating mark 116 andindicating mark 119 on section 107 is folded into aligned relationshipwith indicating mark 118. All of these indicating marks are then alignedwith each other and the fastening element 121 in the nature of a clutchpin or a necktie tack is inserted through the aligned indicating marks116 through 119 to hold the lower ends of the lapels 112 and 113 inoverlapping relation with each other, and at substantially the samerelation on the garment. It will be noted particularly from FIGURE 13,that indicating marks 116 and 118 are located at substantially the samevertical position on the sections and substantially the same distancesfrom the respective marginal edges 109 and 110. This same relationshipis true with respect to indicating marks 117 and 119*.

Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with acertain degree of particularity, it is understood that the presentdisclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of exampleand that numerous changes in the details of construction and thecombination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to withoutdeparting from the spirit and the scope of the invention as hereinafterclaimed.

What is claimed is:

1. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising .a pair of separable sections defining a neckopening, said sections including opposed marginal edges, each marginaledge heing provided adjacent its upper end portion with an open lapel,one of said sections being provided adjacent its margin-a1 edge near thelower end portion of its lapel with an opening and a fastener, saidopening having a central portion which is positioned above a horizontalline passing through a central portion of said fastener and between avertical line passing through said central portion of said fastener andsaid marginal edge of said one of said sections, the other of saidsections: being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportion of its lapel with fastening means, said opening in said one ofsaid sections receiving said fastener of said one of said sections, andsaid fastening means of said other of said sections being attached tosaid fastener of said one of said sections.

2. The body garment defined in claim 1 wherein the fastener of said oneof said sections is a button.

3. The body garment defined in claim 1 wherein the fastening means ofsaid other of said sections is a buttonhole.

4. The body garment defined in claim 1 wherein said fastener and saidfastening means are cooperating snap fastener elements.

5. The body garment defined in claim 1 wherein said opening in said oneof said sections is a loop attached to the marginal edge of said one ofsaid sections.

6. The body garment defined in claim 1 wherein said opening in said oneof said sections is slit substantially perpendicular to the marginaledge of said one of said sections.

7. The body garment defined in claim 1 wherein said opening in said oneof said sections is a slit substantially parallel to the marginal edgeof said one of said sections.

8. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising a pair of separable sections defining a neckopening, said sections including opposed marginal edges, each marginaledge being provided adjacent its upper end portion with an open lapelwhich extends at an acute angle with respect thereto, one of saidsections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportions of its lapel with an opening and a fastener, the other of saidsections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportion of its lapel with first and second openings, said opening insaid one of said sections receiving said fastener of said one of saidsections, said first and second openings of said other of said sectionsbeing folded into overlapping relationship with each other and receivingsaid fastener of said one of said sections, whereby said lower endportions of said lapels are held in overlapping relation with eachother.

9. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising a pair of separable sections defining a neckopening, said sections including opposed marginal edges, each marginaledge being provided adjacent its upper end portion with an open lapelwhich extends at an acute angle with respect thereto, one of saidsections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportion of its lapel with first and second openings, the other of saidsections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportion of its lapel with third and fourth openings, said second openingbeing folded into overlapping relationship with said first opening andsaid fourth opening being folded into overlapping relationship with saidthird opening and all said overlapped openings being aligned, afastening element inserted through said overlapped openings holding saidlower end portions of said lapels in overlapping relation with eachother at substantially the same location on the garment.

10. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising a pair of separable sections defining a neckopening, said sections including opposed marginal edges, each marginaledge of said sections being provided adjacent its upper end portion withan open lapel which extends at an acute angle with respect thereto, oneof said sections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near thelower end portion of its lapel with first and second openings, saidsecond opening having at least some portion of its vertical extent at ahigher level than some corresponding portion of the vertical extent ofsaid first opening in the uniformed condition of the lapel and in theformed condition of the lapel, said at least some portion of said secondopening is aligned with and overlaps some portion of said first opening,the other of said sections being provided adjacent its marginal edgenear the lower end portion of its lapel with cooperating fasteningmeans, said cooperating fas- 8 tening means of said other of saidsections being inserted through said first and second aligned openingswhereby said lower end portions of said lapels are held in overlappingrelation with each other at substantially the same location on thegarment.

11. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising first and second separable sections defining aneck opening, each said section including an opposed marginal edge, eachmarginal edge being provided adjacent its upper end portion with an openlapel which extends at an acute angle with respect to said marginaledge, said first section being provided adjacent its marginal edge nearthe lower end portion of its lapel with an opening and a fastener, saidopening having a central portion which is positioned above a hori-Zontal line passing through a central portion of said fastener andbetween a vertical line passing through said central portion of saidfastener and said marginal edge of said first section prior to thefolding of said first section to produce said open lapel, after foldingsaid fastener of said first section being received through said openingof said first section, said second section being provided adjacent itsmarginal edge near the lower end portion of its lapel with fasteningmeans, said opening and said fastener of said first section beingaligned with and said fastener being connected to said fastening meansof said second section thereby securely forming both lapelssubstantially equal in length and width.

12. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising a pair of separable sections defining a neckopening, said sections including opposed marginal edges, each marginaledge be ing provided adjacent its upper end portion with an open lapel,one of said sections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near thelower end portion of its lapel with an opening and a fastener, saidopening having a portion which is positioned above a horizontal linepassing through a central portion of said fastener and between avertical line passing through said central portion of said fastener andsaid marginal edge of said one of said sections, the other of saidsections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportion of its lapel with fastening means, said opening in said one ofsaid sections receiving said fastener of said one of said sections, andsaid fastening means of said other of said sections being attached tosaid fastener of said one of said sections.

13. A body garment having interconnected front and rear panels, saidfront panel comprising a pair of separable sections defining a neckopening, said sections including opposed marginal edges, each marginaledge being provided adjacent its upper end portion with an open lapelwhich extends at an acute angle with respect thereto, one of saidsections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near the lower endportion of its lapel with first and second indicating marks, the otherof said sections being provided adjacent its marginal edge near thelower end portion of its lapel with third and fourth indicating marks,said second indicating mark being folded into overlapping relationshipwith said first indicating mark and said fourth indicating mark beingfolded into overlapping relationship with said third indicating mark andall said overlapped indicating marks being aligned, a fastening elementcooperating with said overlapped indicating marks holding said lower endportions of said lapels in overlapping relation with each other atsubstantially the same location on the garment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 301,266 7/1884 Plant 2l18 339,9204/1886 Paulme 2-93 724,011 3/1903 Hudson 2-7-255 823,746 6/1906 Vaughn2-255 (Other references on following page) UNITED STATES PATENTS FOREIGNPATENTS 1,110,304 9/1914 Lipton 2-112 217,857 6/1924 Great Britain.1,534,197 4/1925 Williams 2 180,671 1/1936 Switzerland. 1,549,359 8/1925Hanson 285 193,599 1/1938 Switzerland. 2,225,126 12/1940 Nasher 2-97 X 52,322,510 6/ 1943 Define 2-97 PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner.2,707,786 5/1955 Stoner 2-128 X 2,711,539 6/1955 Loscher 2 97 X JORDANFRANKLIN Examme" 2,747,194 5/1956 Ranieri 2---119 I. R. BOLER, AssistantExaminer.

1. A BODY GARMENT HAVING INTERCONNECTED FRONT AND REAR PANELS, SAIDFRONT PANEL COMPRISING A PAIR OF SEPARABLE SECTIONS DEFINING A NECKOPENING, SAID SECTIONS INCLUDING OPPOSED MARGINAL EDGES, EACH MARGINALEDGE BEING PROVIDED ADJACENT ITS UPPER END PORTION WITH AN OPEN LAPEL,ONE OF SAID SECTIONS BEING PROVIDED ADJACENT ITS MARGINAL EDGE NEAR THELOWER END PORTION OF ITS LAPEL WITH AN OPENING AND A FASTENER, SAIDOPENING HAVING A CENTRAL PORTION WHICH IS POSITIONED ABOVE A HORIZONTALLINE PASSING THROUGH A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID FASTENER AND BETWEEN AVERTICAL LINE PASSING THROUGH SAID CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID FASTENER ANDSAID MARGINAL EDGE OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, THE OTHER OF SAIDSECTIONS BEING PROVIDED ADJACENT ITS MARGINAL EDGE NEAR THE LOWER ENDPORTION OF ITS LAPEL WITH FASTENING MEANS, SAID OPENING IN SAID ONE OFSAID SECTIONS RECEIVING SAID FASTENER OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS, ANDSAID FASTENING MEANS OF SAID OTHER OF SAID SECTIONS BEING ATTACHED TOSAID FASTENER OF SAID ONE OF SAID SECTIONS.